Residents blame local leaders and Nkaissery for increased banditry.

Bandits attacks from the Somalis have become very rampant in Ukambani. Photo/Nation

By Abel Mutuku

Kitui leaders led by senator David Musila have called security authorities in the country to flush out armed and illegal headers who have intruded Mwingi area.

The leaders who met at Kasiluni market in kyuso Sub County threatened to take law into their arms if the government does not move in swiftly to address the problem.

The senator noted that the residents were tired of empty promises from interior cabinet secretary’s office, and insisted that they wanted actions as three men had already been killed by the bandits.

“Last year after 15 men died in the hands of Somali bandits but no assistance was accorded to us neither by our area member of parliament nor Nkaissery’s office” noted Musila.

Musila who also threatened to mobilize all elected leaders from Kitui and storm into Nkaissery’s office urged the government to consider issuing firearms to locals as a long term remedy to this recurrent problem that has spanned over a decade now.

Increment of police officers and police patrol vehicles in the area was also pointed out by the leaders as one of the long term ways to curb insecurity in the area, this area has very few police officers.

Locals are said to hide in the forests in fear of the bandits who kill at sight .

“Several homes have been burnt by these people prompting locals to flee to safer areas in Ngomeni markets and in nearby bushes ” said ODM women league chair Beth Syengo.

This meeting that was attended by all MCAs from Mwingi North constituency and youth leaders led by their chairman Aggrey Nzomo comes barely a week after three people were killed and scores injured in the skirmishes between the two communities.

Responding to the issue Kitui County Commissioner Boaz Jerotich said that they have deployed police officers in the area.

Mangombo, Kasiluni, Twambui and Mutha areas are the most hit by banditry attacks that result out of water and pastures.